Good Eats: The Return

**Correction** · 2011-05-11 18:12

http://www.chicagotribune.com/featur...,3396032.story

Spoiler: show

Alton Brown calls an end to 'Good Eats'

By Steve Cavendish Tribune reporter

11:24 p.m. CDT, May 9, 2011
After 249 episodes, "Good Eats" is no more.

Alton Brown called an end to his instructional half-hour show yesterday, announcing it to fans as his first post on Twitter:

"G.E. fans, I've decided to cut the half hour series at 249 eps. There will be 3 new 1 hour eps this year and that's it. But mourn not. New things brew on the horizon..."good" things."

The final new, half-hour episode aired last week.

The pilot for "Good Eats" aired originally on Chicago's WTTW in 1998 before it was picked up by the Food Network. It became such a staple of the network that reruns aired twice daily for years. It also became one of the Food Network's most respected shows, picking up Peabody and Beard awards along the way (including a Beard on Friday for "TV food personality/host"), largely because of Brown's genial Mr. Science-meets-Chef approach.

Along the way "Good Eats" covered topics from steak (Episode 1: "Steak Your Claim") to Asian noodles (Episode 249: "Use Your Noodle 5") and everything in between.

No, really. Everything.

Here's the entire list of topics:

Steak, potatoes, eggs, salad, roasted chicken, ice cream, biscuits, gravy/roux, onion soup, fish, pasta, pilaf, chocolate, roasted turkey, fruitcake, fondue, grilled cheese, apples, pie crust, sugar/caramel, canning, shrimp, coffee, corn, fish and chips, ground beef, tomato sauce, mushrooms, clarified butter, pork ribs, tofu, mussels, quiche/custard/flan, duck, chocolate chip cookies, grilling, pickling, butter, pancakes/maple syrup, cabbage, pizza, beans, poaching, turkey leftovers, smoking/smoked salmon, pressure cooking, fried chicken, lobster, ham, angel food cake, pot roast, honey, garlic, mayonnaise, puff pastry, tea, chili peppers, gelatin, oats/haggis, crepes, roast beef, bacon, eggplant, cheesecake, squid/wok cooking, cocoa powder/brownies, squash, macaroni and cheese, clams, potatoes, tuna, strawberries, artichokes, yogurt, souffle, tomato, home brewing, dip, pork chops, choux pastry, casseroles, ravioli/tortellini, slaw, yellow cake, buttercream frosting, beets, roulade, crab, pulled pork, french omelet, muffins, chicken stock, sausage, steak/fajita/sirloin, steaming, grains, candy, sweet potato, sugar cookie, herbs, spices, corn dogs/sliders, fudge, nuts/pesto, lemon meringue pie, bread toast, banana, hollandaise sauce, oysters, flattened meat, doughnuts, wonton, chili con carne, sandwiches, soup, cheese, chocolate, grits/polenta, stuffing, pudding, melon, myths, coq au vin, carrots, leeks, baking, gyros, greens, rice, peas, shish kebab, beef jerky, ice cream, energy bar, sushi, cobbler, vinegar, waffle, meatball, avocado, pocket pie, eggnog, vanilla, beef tenderloin, cocktails, flounder, pad thai, scallop, olives, tortillas, barley, sweet yeast breads, cube steak, water, peaches, okra, squid, calamari, popcorn, peppercorns, deep fried turkey, lentils, tortillas, gumbo, cornish game hen, pomegranate, corned beef, espresso, spinach salad, milk, pretzels, coconut cake, substitutions, whole fish, dried fruit, beef stew, dill pickles, peanuts, green bean casserole, blueberries, marshmallow, knives, buffalo wings, apple pie, broccoli, crown of lamb, cranberry, cupcakes, dutch ovens, popovers, celery, tuna, oils, preservations, mincemeat, edamame, graham crackers, creole-style beans and rice, baklava, ginger, brussels sprouts, oranges, molasses, salmon, crawfish, tamales, spaghetti, pork tenderloin, parsnip, punch, breakfast, cooking with beer and wine, pound cake, trout, Japanese ingredients, spirits,diets, cocktails, salt, chicken and dumplings, curry, catfish, paella, porterhouse steak, grilled chicken, asparagus, eggs benedict, wood-fired pizzas, banana pudding, tacos, tempura, oats, homemade candy, summer squash, pumpkin pie, meringue, hummus, devil's food cake, chicken pot pie, lasagna, bouillabaisse, bread pudding, yeast rolls, cauliflower, Asian noodles.

Whew. That's a lot of eats. Considering that Brown has written and produced all of the episodes, he's earned a respite.

The show will continue in reruns, likely for years. There's an element of timelessness to the episodes and his early appearances, even ones from the '90s, still hold up because of their focus on basics, technique and the "why" of cooking.

As for Brown, he's the face of the "Iron Chef America" franchise as well as its "Next Iron Chef" spinoff. He's also done three different "Feasting On" road anthologies and appeared on numerous other shows, so he's not hurting for work. Production just began on the fourth season of "Next Iron Chef" and episodes will air in the fall.

At 249 eps it doesn't seem 'too soon' but I'll still be a little sad he won't do any more new eps of the show. Probably doesn't help that this comes on the news of the cancellations of Lie to Me/Chicago Code, I hate to see good TV go away when what replaces it is often vastly inferior.

**quannum** · 2011-05-11 18:20

but ... i dont want it to end ;_;

**Qalbert** · 2011-05-11 18:38

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooo

**Tekoa** · 2011-05-11 18:49

This thread just ruined my day. Fucking hell >_<

**ZarakiKujata** · 2011-05-11 19:10

His Good Eat's Thanksgiving Turkey will continue to be their #1 holiday recipe... and really its not like hes made that many episodes anymore w/ all his other shows..

**Guitarman** · 2011-05-11 19:41

Maaan. Ruined my day too.

Suprised so many of you wached/liked the show, though. Alton is a boss.

**SamanosukeShiva** · 2011-05-11 22:01

Noooooooo, other kids had sesame street, I had my good eats.

**Omniyoji** · 2011-05-11 23:01

This was the best shit on the food network since the original jp Iron Chef. Now what am I gonna watch besides reruns and unwrapped?!

**Cleverness** · 2011-05-11 23:08

The flying fuck, why. I love this shit. If Food Network showed reruns of this rather than Diners/Drive-ins/Dives I'd never change the channel prolly.

**Rivero** · 2011-05-12 00:03

Sucks to hear....this show was truly one of a kind. I doubt anything could take the spot of Good Eats.

**Boyiee** · 2011-05-12 00:25

I do not approve.

**noblemountain** · 2011-05-12 07:57

Almost all of what ran on Food Network for the last 2 years was reruns anyway.

**Serra** · 2011-05-12 11:55

This is sad news.. Also weird that he changed the yeast molecules recently if he was considering ending the show..

**Kaslo** · 2011-05-12 11:57

This is one of the cooking shows I intend to buy on DVD... Sad day really...

**ronin sparthos** · 2011-05-12 12:27

Fucking lame. ;/

And yes, Alton is a boss. He is like the Bill Nye of Cooking to me.

**MStar** · 2011-05-12 12:36

He is slightly pretentious but his show was quite good. They need to get rid of basic bitches like Sandra Lee.

**vagus** · 2011-05-12 13:36

Originally Posted by Boyiee

I do not approve.

Lol.

One of the original must see cooking shows. Also provided the most information for real cooking. Hopefully they'll start showing more reruns.

**Boyiee** · 2011-05-12 13:39

What strikes me is that he finally made a twitter account to put this news out there... I remember reading he spends like $20-30k a year to get rid of and delete alton fakes on the internet (especially twitter and facebook) and was mostly against those sites in general.

**Rulke** · 2011-05-12 16:55

WTF!? Noooooo!

**Serra** · 2011-08-06 18:02

Sorry to bump an old thread, but according to my DVR, there's a new episode of Good Eats in an hour, and it's an hour long.. Dunno what to think of that, but it's got me excited~

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